Iranian state IRIB TV has shown footage of what it claims is a US drone that was shot down by Iranian troops in the eastern region of the country four days ago.

This photo released on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and taken at an undisclosed location claims to show the US RQ-170 Sentinel drone which Tehran says its forces downed earlier this week.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Commander Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh said in the report that with the help of collected information and with accurate electronic surveillance, it had learned that the drone was to enter Iran's air space for spying.

He also said that after the RQ-170 US reconnaissance drone aircraft entered Iran's eastern space, it was trapped by the electronic systems of Iran's armed forces and was downed with the least damage possible.

This photo released on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and taken at an undisclosed location claims to show the US RQ-170 Sentinel drone which Tehran says its forces downed earlier this week.

Iranian media reported the drone was discovered over the eastern town of Kashmar, about 200 kilometers from Afghanistan's border.